US tornadoes: Up to 100 people may have been killed in Kentucky, official says

US tornadoes cause death and destruction WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Up to 100 people may have been killed as tornadoes and storms hit several US states, toppling buildings and trapping people inside. KENTUCKY: Governor Andy Beshear said the state had “experienced some of the worst tornado damage we’ve seen…

Suspected ADF attacks kill 16 people in eastern DR Congo

The Congolese military is undertaking joint operations with Ugandan forces against the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) KINSHASA, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Suspected fighters of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have killed 16 people in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in attacks that took place as a joint…

New German government plans 60-bn-euro ‘future’ fund

   BERLIN, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany’s new government is planning to earmark 60 billion euros ($68 billion) to fund “future investment” including its plans to tackle climate change, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said.   The money will be taken from funds approved to help the government tackle the coronavirus…

Covid-19: UK cases highest since January – senior minister

LONDON, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK saw the highest number of Covid infections since January, a senior minister said Friday, as the government seeks to slow the spread of the new variant. Communities Secretary Michael Gove said that the country faces a “deeply concerning situation” as the Omicron variant…

Four convicted for Brazil disco fire that killed 242

   PORTO ALEGRE (Brazil), Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Brazilian court convicted four people for their role in a nightclub fire that left 242 people dead nearly a decade ago, handing down sentences of up to 22 years.   The 2013 fire at the nightclub in the southern town of…

UK says West will counter ‘aggressors’ as G7 ministers, allies meet

     LIVERPOOL, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Saturday vowed the West and its allies will “take a stand against aggressors who seek to undermine liberty” as she hosts a G7 ministerial summit.   The two-day gathering in Liverpool, northwest England, of foreign and development ministers…

Russia presents flagless uniforms for Beijing Games

MOSCOW, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia unveiled the national team uniform for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on Friday, leaving out its tricolour flag from the design to comply with doping sanctions. ZASPORT, the outfitter of the Russian Olympic team, unveiled red, white, blue and grey uniforms that bore the…

Uyghur genocide report ‘deeply disturbing’, says UN

A perimeter fence is constructed around what is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Dabancheng in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region GENEVA, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations labelled as “deeply disturbing” a report by a London panel of lawyers and rights experts accusing China of genocide against…

US imposes sweeping human rights sanctions on China, Myanmar and North Korea

The US government and many rights groups say Beijing is carrying out genocide in Xinjiang province WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed extensive human rights-related sanctions on dozens of people and entities tied to China, Myanmar, North Korea and Bangladesh, and added Chinese artificial intelligence company SenseTime Group to an…

World Bank says donors approve release of US$280 million for Afghanistan

An Afghan woman begs for alms in Kabul, Afghanistan WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — International donors agreed to release US$280 million in aid to Afghanistan, the World Bank said, after repeated warnings that more than half the population face “acute” food shortages this winter. The fund from the Afghanistan Reconstruction…